A BUSINESS consultant has lost his libel action in the High Court over a letter written in 1990 when the Sandoz pharmaceutical plant was being established at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
Yesterday Mr Justice Morris agreed to the defence application for the case to be withdrawn from the jury. He had reserved judgment when the application was made in the absence of the jury last Friday.
Mr Stanley Bell (57), a native of Derry, who lives at Greythorn Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin, sued Mr Winifried Pedersen, project director for the Ringaskiddy plant, and Sandoz Ringaskiddy Ltd.
Mr Bell claimed that at the time he was employed by Badger Catalytic Ltd, a subsidiary of a US firm, United Engineering, Philadelphia. He was delegated to act as liaison/procurement for the setting up of the Sandoz operation at Ringaskiddy.
He claimed he was libelled in a letter dated November 29th, 1990, addressed to Mr Dave Parsons, manager of products, United Engineering, and circulated to Mr Gerry Hourihan, a senior engineer with Sandoz Mr Hans Klettner, a Sandoz employee Mr Jeff Osborne, managing director of Badger Catalytic in the UK and other persons unknown to him.
Mr Bell claimed the letter implied he was incompetent in his position as liaison/procurement consultant for Sandoz in Ireland and that he was unfit to continue in his office.
Yesterday Mr Justice Morris said that, with great reluctance, he had formed the view that Mr Bell had failed to satisfy him that the jury would, at this stage, come to the conclusion that the defendants were guilty of malice.
Costs were awarded to the defendants. A stay on the order for costs was granted in the event of an appeal.